Data management method using network

• US 20020103885A1
• Filed: 01/24/2002
• Published: 08/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Hamada, Masashi
• Granted Patent: US 7,254,606 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1008 based on parameters of servers, e.g. available memory or workload monitoring of computer activity G06F11/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1012 based on compliance of requirements or conditions with available server resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1034 Reaction to server failures by a load balancer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

This invention has been made to manage data possessed by a user on a network. One of this invention is a data management method using a network system which includes a server and a client terminal, including the step of making a control server receive a user'"'"'s data storage request from the client terminal, the step of making the control server select a data server located in an area that has a predetermined relationship with an area set by the user, and the step of making the control server send data associated with the data storage request to the selected data server, and store the data in the selected data server.

Claims

1. A data management method using a network system which includes a server and a client terminal, comprising:

the reception step of making the server receive a user'"'"'s data storage request from the client terminal;

the select step of making the server select a data server located in an area that has a predetermined relationship with an area set by a user; and

the storage step of making the server send data associated with the data storage request to the selected data server, and store the data in the selected data server.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the select step includes the step of:

making the server select the data server located in an area other than the area set by the user.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the select step includes the step of:

making the server select a plurality of data servers, and

the storage step includes the step of;

sending data associated with the data storage request to the respective selected data servers, and storing the data in the selected data servers.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

the step of making the server acquire disaster information from a disaster information database that provides disaster information, and search for an area with a low disaster rate of occurrence on the basis of the acquired disaster information, and

wherein the select step includes the step of;

making the server select at least the data server located in an area other than the area set by the user, and the data server located in the area with the low disaster rate of occurrence.

5. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

the step of making the server encrypt the data associated with the data storage request, and

wherein the storage step includes the step of;

making the server send the data encrypted by different methods to the respective data servers, and store the data in the data servers.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

the step of making the server periodically acquire the encrypted data from the data servers;

the step of making the server decrypt the acquired data; and

the step of making the server compare the decrypted data.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

the step of making the server send to the client terminal an address of the data server that stores the data.

8. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

the step of making the server send to the client terminal an address of the data server that stores the data, and a key used to decrypt the encrypted data.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein information of the area set by the user is pre-stored in the server.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

the step of making the data server receive a user'"'"'s data transmission request from the client terminal; and

the step of making the data server send data associated with the data transmission request to the client terminal.

11. A data management method using a network system which includes a server and a client terminal, comprising:

the reception step of making the server receive a user'"'"'s data storage request from the client terminal;

the select step of making the server select a data server that stores data associated with the data storage request; and

the storage step of making the server send data associated with the data storage request to the selected data server, and store the data in the selected data server.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said select means selects at least two servers.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said storage control means encrypts the data associated with the storage request using an encryption method corresponding to the server selected by said select means, and stores the encrypted data in the selected server.

18. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the service subscription qualification level is determined based on a value such as a subscription fee or the like for a service.

19. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the service subscription qualification level is determined based on a service subscription term such as a number of years of subscription or the like.

20. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said select means selects the server on the basis of disaster information.

21. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said select means selects the server in consideration of a location area of a client device that issued the storage request.

22. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said select means selects a server with a lowest suffering risk from the servers corresponding to the service subscription qualification level of the user who issued the storage request, and a server with a lowest suffering risk of servers present in areas other than a location area of a client device that issued the storage request.

23. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein when the user'"'"'s service subscription qualification level has changed, said select means re-selects the server, and said storage control means stores the data associated with the storage request again in the server re-selected by said select means.

24. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said select means re-selects the server in accordance with a change in disaster information, and said storage control means stores the data associated with the storage request again in the server re-selected by said select means.

25. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein when a location area of a client device that issued the storage request has changed, said select means re-selects the server, and said storage control means stores the data associated with the storage request again in the server re-selected by said select means.

26. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said service control means includes checking means for checking authenticity of the data stored in the server by said storage control means.

27. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said checking means checks authenticity by comparing data which are associated with an identical storage request and are stored in a plurality of servers by said storage control means.

28. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said checking means checks if data becomes fraudulent due to a memory medium.

29. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said checking means checks if data becomes fraudulent due to tampering of data.

30. The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein when said checking means determines that the data becomes fraudulent due to tampering of data, said checking means sends a message indicating this to a client device that issued the storage request of the data.

31. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said service control means includes authentication means for authenticating if the user who issued the storage request is a member who subscribes to the service, and accepts only the storage request from the user authenticated by said authentication means.

32. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said service control means includes authentication means for checking authenticity of the server selected by said select means, and said storage control means stores data associated with the storage request in only the server authenticated by said authentication means.

33. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said service control means includes notify means for sending at least various storage condition data associated with a data storage process of said storage control means to a client device that issued the storage request.

34. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said notify means sends encryption algorithm and key data in addition to storage location data of the data associated with the storage request as the storage condition data.

35. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the client device includes storage means for storing at least the storage condition data sent from said notify means.

36. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said storage means is a storage medium detachable from the client device.

37. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said storage means is a storage medium built in the client device.

39. The method according to claim 38, wherein the select step includes the step of selecting at least two servers.

40. The method according to claim 38, wherein the storage control step includes the step of encrypting the data associated with the storage request using an encryption method corresponding to the server selected in the select step, and storing the encrypted data in the selected server.

41. The method according to claim 38, wherein the service subscription qualification level is determined based on a value such as a subscription fee or the like for a service.

42. The method according to claim 38, wherein the service subscription qualification level is determined based on a service subscription term such as subscribed years or the like.

43. The method according to claim 38, wherein the select step includes the step of selecting the server on the basis of disaster information.

44. The method according to claim 38, wherein the select step includes the step of selecting the server in consideration of a location area of a client device that issued the storage request.

45. The method according to claim 38, wherein the select step includes the step of selecting a server with a lowest suffering risk from the servers corresponding to the service subscription qualification level of the user who issued the storage request, and a server with a lowest suffering risk of servers present in areas other than a location area of a client device that issued the storage request.

46. The method according to claim 38, wherein the select step includes the step of re-selecting, when the user'"'"'s service subscription qualification level has changed, the server, and the storage control step includes the step of storing the data associated with the storage request again in the server re-selected in the select step.

47. The method according to claim 38, wherein the select step includes the step of re-selecting the server in accordance with a change in disaster information, and the storage control step includes the step of storing the data associated with the storage request again in the server re-selected in the select step.

48. The method according to claim 38, wherein the select step includes the step of re-selecting, when a location area of a client device that issued the storage request has changed, the server, and the storage control step includes the step of storing the data associated with the storage request again in the server re-selected in the select step.

49. The method according to claim 38, wherein the service control step includes the checking step of checking authenticity of the data stored in the server in the storage control step.

50. The method according to claim 49, wherein the checking step includes the step of checking authenticity by comparing data which are associated with an identical storage request and are stored in a plurality of servers in the storage control step.

51. The method according to claim 49, wherein the checking step includes the step of checking if data becomes fraudulent due to a memory medium.

52. The method according to claim 49, wherein the checking step includes the step of checking if data becomes fraudulent due to tampering of data.

53. The method according to claim 52, wherein the checking step includes the step of sending, when it is determined that the data becomes fraudulent due to tampering of data, a message indicating this to a client device that issued the storage request of the data.

54. The method according to claim 38, wherein the service control step includes the authentication step of authenticating if the user who issued the storage request is a member who subscribes to the service, and includes the step of accepting only the storage request from the user authenticated in the authentication step.

55. The method according to claim 38, wherein the service control step includes the authentication step of checking authenticity of the server selected in the select step, and the storage control step includes the step of storing data associated with the storage request in only the server authenticated in the authentication step.

56. The method according to claim 38, wherein the service control step includes the notify step of sending at least various storage condition data associated with a data storage process of the storage control step to a client device that issued the storage request.

57. The method according to claim 56, wherein the notify step includes the step of sending encryption algorithm and key data in addition to storage location data of the data associated with the storage request as the storage condition data.

58. The method according to claim 56, wherein the client device includes storage means for storing at least the storage condition data sent in the notify step.

59. The method according to claim 58, wherein said storage means is a storage medium detachable from the client device.

60. The method according to claim 58, wherein said storage means is a storage medium built in the client device.

12. A server comprising:

reception means for receiving a user'"'"'s data storage request sent from a client;

select means for selecting a data server that stores data associated with the data storage request via a communication line; and

means for sending the data associated with the data storage request to the selected data server via the communication line.

13. A program for making a computer function as:

reception means for receiving a user'"'"'s data storage request sent from a client via a communication line;

select means for selecting a data server that stores data associated with the data storage request; and

means for sending the data associated with the data storage request to the selected data server via the communication line.

14. A data management system including a control server, a client terminal, and a plurality of data servers, which can communicate with each other via a communication line,

said control server comprising:

reception means for receiving a user'"'"'s data storage request sent from a client;

select means for selecting a data server that stores data associated with the data storage request; and

means for sending the data associated with the data storage request to the selected data server, and

said data server comprising;

means for storing the data sent from said control server.

15. A data storage service apparatus which comprises a plurality of servers for storing data in response to a storage request via a network, comprising:

service control means which includes

select means for selecting the server in accordance with at least a user'"'"'s service subscription qualification level, and

storage control means for storing data associated with a storage request in the server selected by said select means.

38. A method of controlling a data storage service apparatus which comprises a plurality of servers for storing data in response to a storage request via a network, comprising:

the service control step which includes

the select step of selecting the server in accordance with at least a user'"'"'s service subscription qualification level, and

the storage control step of storing data associated with a storage request in the server selected in the select step.

61. A data storage service system which comprises a plurality of servers for storing data in response to a storage request via a network, comprising:

service control means which includes

select means for selecting the server in accordance with at least a user'"'"'s service subscription qualification level, and

storage control means for storing data associated with a storage request in the server selected by said select means.

62. The system according to claim 61, wherein said select means selects at least two servers.

63. The system according to claim 61, wherein said storage control means encrypts the data associated with the storage request using an encryption method corresponding to the server selected by said select means, and stores the encrypted data in the selected server.

64. The system according to claim 61, wherein the service subscription qualification level is determined based on a value such as a subscription fee or the like for a service.

65. The system according to claim 61, wherein the service subscription qualification level is determined based on a service subscription term such as subscribed years or the like.

66. The system according to claim 61, wherein said select means selects the server on the basis of disaster information.

67. The system according to claim 61, wherein said select means selects the server in consideration of a location area of a client device that issued the storage request.

68. The system according to claim 61, wherein said select means selects a server with a lowest suffering risk from the servers corresponding to the service subscription qualification level of the user who issued the storage request, and a server with a lowest suffering risk of servers present in areas other than a location area of a client device that issued the storage request.

69. The system according to claim 61, wherein when the user'"'"'s service subscription qualification level has changed, said select means re-selects the server, and said storage control means stores the data associated with the storage request again in the server re-selected by said select means.

70. The system according to claim 61, wherein said select means re-selects the server in accordance with a change in disaster information, and said storage control means stores the data associated with the storage request again in the server re-selected by said select means.

71. The system according to claim 61, wherein when a location area of a client device that issued the storage request has changed, said select means re-selects the server, and said storage control means stores the data associated with the storage request again in the server re-selected by said select means.

72. The system according to claim 61, wherein said service control means includes checking means for checking authenticity of the data stored in the server by said storage control means.

73. The system according to claim 72, wherein said checking means checks authenticity by comparing data which are associated with an identical storage request and are stored in a plurality of servers by said storage control means.

74. The system according to claim 72, wherein said checking means checks if data becomes fraudulent due to a memory medium.

75. The system according to claim 72, wherein said checking means checks if data becomes fraudulent due to tampering of data.

76. The system according to claim 75, wherein when said checking means determines that the data becomes fraudulent due to tampering of data, said checking means sends a message indicating this to a client device that issued the storage request of the data.

77. The system according to claim 61, wherein said service control means includes authentication means for authenticating if the user who issued the storage request is a member who subscribes to the service, and accepts only the storage request from the user authenticated by said authentication means.

78. The system according to claim 61, wherein said service control means includes authentication means for checking authenticity of the server selected by said select means, and said storage control means stores data associated with the storage request in only the server authenticated by said authentication means.

79. The system according to claim 61, wherein said service control means includes notify means for sending at least various storage condition data associated with a data storage process of said storage control means to a client device that issued the storage request.

80. The system according to claim 79, wherein said notify means sends encryption algorithm and key data in addition to storage location data of the data associated with the storage request as the storage condition data.

81. The system according to claim 79, wherein the client device includes storage means for storing at least the storage condition data sent from said notify means.

82. The system according to claim 81, wherein said storage means is a storage medium detachable from the client device.

83. The system according to claim 81, wherein said storage means is a storage medium built in the client device.

84. A control program executed by a data storage service system which comprises a plurality of servers for storing data in response to a storage request via a network, having contents for:

storing data associated with a storage request in the server selected in correspondence with at least a user'"'"'s service subscription qualification level.